Question

Discuss the propriety of showing: a) treasury stock as an asset - b) ""gain"" or ""loss"" on sale of treasury stock as additions to or deductions from income c) dividends received on treasury stock as income

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Treasury stock cannot be shown as an asset because a company cannot buy itself.

b) Gain or loss on sale of treasury stock is not to be treated as income, it should be added or subtracted from share capital because it is a capital transaction.

c). Treasury stock is not an asset. Dividends received from treasury stock cannot be treated as income, it is only assets that generates income.

Explanation:

When corporations for some strategic reasons and the desire to maintain and stabilize the shareholders wealth decide to buy back some of its shares, that is what is known as treasury stock. It is also called reacquired stock

a. The treasury stock is like a corporation acquiring itself, so it cannot be shown as an asset, it is only a reclassification within the same balance sheet.

b. Gains or loss on sale of treasury stock is not an income transaction, it is a transaction that affects the share capital of the corporation and must be charged to the share capital not the income.

c. Since treasury stock is not an asset, dividend received on treasury stock is not to be treated as income, it is only assets that generates income. it should affect retained earnings.